ABA Therapy in Texas: Medicaid, Insurance & How to Get Covered
Texas added ABA therapy to Medicaid in 2022, and state law requires most private insurers to cover it too. This guide explains how each program works, which cities have providers, and how to get your child matched with a verified ABA center.
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Where can I find ABA therapy in Texas?
ABA therapy in Texas is available through center-based and in-home providers concentrated in the Houston metro (Harris County and suburbs), Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin, and San Antonio, with regional providers in Tyler, Beaumont, Lubbock, and other cities. Most families access ABA therapy through STAR Kids Medicaid, private insurance under Texas Insurance Code Chapter 1355, or the state's Children's Autism Program (CAP). Texas became the 50th and final state to add ABA to its Medicaid benefit in February 2022, so coverage options that did not exist a few years ago are now available to many families.
Browse the full Texas ABA directory → Estimate ABA therapy cost →
ABA therapy centers in Texas by region
Texas has over 100 active ABA therapy centers across the state. Most cluster in the Houston metro and DFW, but Austin and San Antonio have strong provider bases too. Select your city to compare providers, accepted insurance, and waitlist status.
2026 access note
Texas has some of the lowest Medicaid ABA reimbursement rates in the country, and in late 2025 that led at least one large national provider, Autism Learning Partners, to announce it would stop offering ABA in Texas as of March 2026. When participating providers leave, waitlists in some metros can get longer. Confirm current availability and whether STAR Kids Medicaid is accepted when you call.
Harris County and the surrounding suburbs hold the largest concentration of ABA providers in Texas.
DFW is the second-largest ABA market in Texas, with providers spread across the Metroplex.
Austin and its fast-growing suburbs have a strong and expanding ABA provider base.
Bexar County providers serve families across the San Antonio metro.
Regional centers reaching families outside the major metros.
Tell us your city and your child's needs. We will send you a shortlist of verified ABA providers.
How much does ABA therapy cost in Texas, and who pays?
Most Texas families do not pay the full out-of-pocket price for ABA. The majority access it through STAR Kids Medicaid, private insurance (which Texas law requires most plans to cover), or the state's Children's Autism Program. What you pay depends on your child's eligibility, your plan's copays and deductibles, and the number of hours per week. Use our cost tool to sketch a realistic estimate.
Estimate your out-of-pocket cost
ABA pricing depends on hours per week, setting (center vs. in-home), and how your insurance applies copays and deductibles. Our calculator gives you a realistic range before you call providers.
Open the ABA therapy cost toolSTAR Kids Medicaid
Texas Medicaid added ABA as a covered benefit in February 2022. Children enrolled in STAR Kids who have an ASD diagnosis and a referral can access ABA with no premium. Prior authorization is required.
Private insurance (Insurance Code Ch. 1355)
Texas law requires most private health plans to cover autism treatment including ABA. Plans that are self-funded by large employers (ERISA plans) are exempt from this state mandate; check your plan documents.
Children's Autism Program (CAP)
The state-funded CAP provides focused ABA at no cost to eligible families, capped at 180 hours per year. It is not a Medicaid program and has its own application process through 2-1-1.
Texas Medicaid and ABA therapy: what parents need to know
On February 1, 2022, Texas became the 50th and final state to add Applied Behavior Analysis to its Medicaid benefit. The program operates through the Texas Health Steps-Comprehensive Care Program (THSteps-CCP). Details below come from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and the state's managed care enrollment resources.
Step 0: get an autism diagnosis first
Every ABA payment path in Texas requires a current autism spectrum disorder diagnosis before therapy can be authorized. That applies to STAR Kids Medicaid, the Children's Autism Program, and private insurance under Chapter 1355. If your child does not have a diagnosis yet, start with your pediatrician, a pediatric developmental clinic, or a licensed psychologist. Families already in STAR Kids can ask their managed care organization for a referral to a qualified evaluator.
STAR Kids: the main program for children with disabilities
Most children with autism who qualify for Texas Medicaid are enrolled in STAR Kids, a managed care program for children age 20 and younger who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or who participate in a Medicaid waiver program. STAR Kids covers both basic medical services and long-term services and supports, including ABA therapy. Each child is assigned a service coordinator who helps manage their care plan.
To access ABA through STAR Kids: verify Medicaid eligibility, obtain a current ASD diagnosis from a qualified clinician, get a referral for ABA from your child's physician, and contact your managed care organization (MCO) to begin the prior authorization process. Common MCOs include Molina, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan, Aetna Better Health, and Superior HealthPlan.
Source: Texas HHS: STAR Kids program overview and eligibility
What Texas Medicaid covers for ABA
Effective February 1, 2022, the THSteps-CCP added ABA evaluation and treatment as a covered benefit for children and youth with an ASD diagnosis enrolled in Texas Medicaid who meet program criteria. Covered services include both the initial ABA evaluation and ongoing treatment designed to improve communication, behavior, and daily living skills. Services must be medically necessary and prior authorization from the child's MCO is required before services begin.
Source: Texas HHS: Medicaid Applied Behavior Analysis flyer (PDF)
Medicaid Buy-In for Children: an option if your income is too high
If your child has a qualifying disability but your household income exceeds the standard Medicaid limit, the Medicaid Buy-In for Children program lets you purchase Medicaid coverage at a sliding-scale premium based on family income. This is a meaningful option for families with employer coverage whose private insurance has high out-of-pocket costs for ABA, since Medicaid can act as a secondary payer.
Before you rely on Medicaid coverage
This page summarizes publicly available Texas state information and is not legal or medical advice. Eligibility rules, covered services, and prior authorization requirements can change. Confirm your child's current benefits with your MCO or the Texas HHS Medicaid enrollment line at 877-782-6440 before making decisions.
Texas Children's Autism Program (CAP): focused ABA at no cost
Separate from Medicaid, the Texas HHS Children's Autism Program provides focused ABA therapy through local community contractors at no cost to eligible families. It is a narrower program than full Medicaid ABA coverage, but it is an important option for families while they wait for Medicaid approval or private insurance prior authorization.
Who qualifies
- Child has a documented autism spectrum disorder diagnosis from a qualified professional
- Child is between 3 and 15 years old (services end on the 16th birthday)
- Child is a Texas resident
Program limits to know
- Focused ABA only: targets specific behaviors, not all developmental needs
- Limited to 180 hours within any 12-month period
- Lifetime maximum of 720 hours per child
- Parent training is required; 85% attendance required for child and parent
How to apply for CAP
All CAP services are delivered by contractors in communities across Texas. The simplest way to start is to call 2-1-1 or search for a contractor through 211texas.org. You can also contact the Children's Autism Program office directly.
Phone
512-438-5356
M-F, 8am-5pm CT
Childrens.Autism.Program@hhs.texas.gov
Statewide referral
Call 2-1-1 or visit 211texas.org
Texas private insurance mandate: Insurance Code Chapter 1355
Texas Insurance Code Chapter 1355 (Sec. 1355.015) requires most state-regulated private health insurance plans to cover autism spectrum disorder treatment, including ABA therapy. The mandate dates back to House Bill 1919 in 2007. It is separate from Medicaid and applies to families with employer-sponsored or individual market insurance.
What Chapter 1355 requires
Under Chapter 1355, health benefit plans issued or renewed in Texas must cover the diagnosis and treatment of autism spectrum disorder. Covered treatments include behavioral health treatment (including ABA), speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, and physical therapy. Plans may not impose annual or lifetime dollar limits on these benefits that are lower than limits applied to other medical and surgical benefits.
The ERISA exemption: the most important thing to check
The state mandate only applies to plans regulated by Texas. Many large employers "self-fund" their health plans, meaning the employer pays claims directly rather than buying a policy from an insurer. These self-funded plans are governed by federal ERISA law, not state law, and are exempt from the Chapter 1355 mandate. If your insurance card says "administered by" an insurance company but your employer is the actual plan sponsor, your plan may be self-funded.
To find out: ask your HR department whether your plan is "fully insured" or "self-funded." Fully insured plans must comply with Chapter 1355. Self-funded plans are not required to, though many still choose to cover ABA.
If your insurer denies ABA coverage
If you have a fully insured Texas plan and your insurer denies ABA, you have the right to file an internal appeal and then an external review. Texas requires plans to provide written notice of appeal rights with every denial. You can also file a complaint with the Texas Department of Insurance at 800-252-3439.
How to choose an ABA provider in Texas
Texas has a wide range of ABA providers, from national chains with dozens of locations to small independent practices. Use this checklist when comparing providers and calling for intake.
- Center-based, in-home, school-based, or telehealth
- Full-day, half-day, or after-school hours
- Drive time across the Houston or DFW metro
- BCBA-to-child ratio and how often the BCBA observes sessions
- Whether RBTs deliver the day-to-day sessions
- Parent training built into the program
- Current waitlist length
- Whether an autism diagnosis is required before intake
- Whether evaluations are available in-house
- Whether STAR Kids Medicaid is accepted
- Which commercial plans the center accepts (and whether prior auth is handled in-house)
- Sliding-scale or self-pay options if coverage is pending
Compare providers across nearby cities
In the Houston metro, providers in Pearland, Katy, and The Woodlands often have shorter waitlists than central Houston. In DFW, families in Plano or Carrollton sometimes find faster intake than Dallas proper. It is worth checking two or three nearby cities before committing to a waitlist.
Frequently Asked Questions About ABA Therapy in Texas
Does Texas Medicaid cover ABA therapy?
What is STAR Kids and does it cover ABA?
What is the Texas Children's Autism Program (CAP)?
Does Texas require private insurance to cover ABA?
How do I find ABA therapy in Houston or Dallas?
What can I do if my ABA claim is denied?
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